Former workers camp in CBD demanding money from Tshwane metro

According to the metro, when the employment contract of the 627 workers ended in 2020, the municipality sent them a termination letter.

The metro asked them to visit their HR agent to complete a slew of documents, including the UIF (UI-19) form, which formalised their termination.

The workers, however, refused to sign their termination documents.

“The metro unlawfully dismissed us without notice, while they also refused to pay us our annual leave money due to us,” said the workers’ representative, Cedric Cele,

“We are here for one thing: to demand our money. Now we are being treated like animals after the DA administration left us destitute.”

Cele claimed the Tshwane metro had not issued their termination letters.

He said since their “dismissal” by the metro, hundreds of employees have also been unable to apply for their UIF.

Cele said the metro was making their lives “extremely hard” as they were entering another festive season without funds to feed their families.

“We cannot claim Sassa grants, UIF or any other money for financial relief.”

He added he wanted the metro to fix the issue before 2022 as they had to pay for things such as school fees in January.

This came after the workers clashed with police in September while camping outside at Tshwane House.

According to the metro, the workers pelted police with stones.

At the time, worker Pertia Makgamatho said the situation that they found themselves in “hurts a lot”.

“I have been sleeping here for three days now. We live by asking people for donations so that we can have something to eat.”

Makgamatho said the only thing they want was their jobs back.

“We are not sitting here because we want to, but because we just want to go back to work. They promised us permanent posts, but now they are going back on their word.

“It has been very difficult for me financially because I now have to ask everything from neighbours. I don’t even have the strength to get up in the mornings because I have nothing to do at home. That is why I decided to come here. The only time I will leave here is when everything has been fixed.”

Lerato Maema, who is seven months pregnant, is also among the former employees.

Maema said she only discovered last year that she didn’t qualify for any grants because records showed she was still employed when her son applied for Nsfas.

“They told me he cannot qualify because I am permanently employed. I can’t get any grants including the R350. Everything says I’m permanently employed.

“I’m forced to come here to fight for my job because I’m a single parent. It’s been three days since I have been sleeping here in the condition I am in. I’m prepared to stay here even until we get our jobs back. My hospital file is here so that if anything happens, I can go to the hospital.”

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the former employees were only contracted on a 12-months fixed-term employment contract.

Mashigo said the contract stretched from November 2019 to October 2020.

“The employees were, therefore, never dismissed, but their contracts of employment came to an end.”

He said the Tshwane metro had also been assisting them in regards to their UIF and other compensations they claim they are owed.

“The metro has been distributing the UI-19 forms to the former employees.”

He said the group had also taken the matter to court and the outcome was still being awaited.

“The City will continue to distribute the UI-19 forms to those who have not fetched theirs yet.”

Tshwane metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the metro opted not to extend their one-year employment contract, which led to protests, an arbitration case and a labour court matter.

Bokaba said the metro was, however, confident it would win the cases because the workers were given a clear and fixed temporary contract of employment. The municipality had never absorbed them, and it was clear it would not re-hire them.

He also questioned the validity of a letter one of the workers had, which stated he was permanently employed.

He said the letter could not be valid and it also appeared to be stamped on October 27, which was the date their contract was terminated.